Jim Leyland will take his shirt off for charity - MLB

Dana Wakiji of the Detroit News files this report from Curtis Granderson’s charity event:

The highlight of the evening was the live bachelor auction. Comedian
Jeff Dye, a third-place finisher on Season 6 of NBC’s “Last Comic
Standing,” did a quick set of comedy before serving as auctioneer for
bachelors Granderson, [Edwin] Jackson and [Ryan] Perry. Dye mentioned
that Jackson, like Perry, had tattoos. Jackson’s tattoos could only be
revealed by removing his shirt, so he asked his manager’s permission.

“You take your shirt off, I’ll take mine off,” [Jim] Leyland yelled
from the middle of the room. Jackson obliged by removing his shirt and
showing off his tattooed back and arms. He then demanded his manager
keep his word. Leyland came up to the stage and said he would remove
his shirt as long as the picture did not end up on TV or in the
newspaper.

And in what may be the greatest triumph of journalistic ethics in the
history of mankind, photos of a shirtless, 65-year-old, chain-smoking
Jim Leyland have indeed not shown up online. You can see all the Edwin
Jackson back tattoos you want, though.

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”